Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
As I greet the driver and slide into the back seat, I can see that Crue is fuming. “Princess,” he all but growls.
“Yes?” I ask sweetly.
“Were you just sitting up there watching TV?”
“Of course not. I was very conscious of what you might think about what I was wearing.” I offer my best fake pout. “Do you not like it?”
He grabs the back of my neck and pulls me into him, his growl a hot flash on my mouth. “I told you not to be late.”
“And I told you to leave me alone.”
“Hmm,” he hums, pressing his lips to mine as punishment. His tongue is warm, and his heavy strokes remind me exactly what that sinister tongue can do to other parts of my body.
It’s not long until we arrive at his apartment, and he slowly pulls away, my body a trembling mess in complaint.
I grab his hand. “Can’t we wait a little bit,” I ask eagerly, wanting him to finish what he began.
“You shouldn’t have been late,” he chides as he steps out and circles the car to open my door.
My mouth is agape. Is he saying no to me?
He takes my hand and leads me to the elevator, where he inserts a key and then clicks the button for the penthouse. He stands behind me, his hands around my waist, holding me to him. He spreads kisses up my neck and pushes my hair out of the way. The doors open to reveal two women standing there. One is Angel, and the other I don’t recognize.
“Mama,” Crue says, still holding on to me.
My blood runs cold.
His mother reaches for me and pulls me out of Crue’s grip until I’m following her—more like being dragged—into the kitchen.
“You’re late,” are the first words she says. And I have the distinct impression this is the very person Crue gets his need for punctuality from.
She seems to have already cooked and is now putting the finishing touches on the food.
“I-I’m sorry,” I stammer, unsure what else to say.
“Mama Monti loves things done on time,” Angel explains, coming up to stand next to me. “So glad you could come. We only have a few days left, and Mama Monti has wanted to meet you all this time.” And my cutting glare in Crue’s direction reminds him of the fact I’m not at all comfortable with being ambushed like this.
“You shouldn’t have left it for so long until I got to meet her.” Mrs. Monti waves a wooden spoon with sauce on it in the general direction of Crue and me. And I’m unsure if she’s mad with her son or both of us.
“I had to meet you. My son has said for a long time he plans to marry you. I’m glad to see him sticking to his word. And I am glad you are so beautiful, not that I expected less. I mean, my son has great taste. Takes after his mother,” she says.
My blood freezes while that constricting feeling creeps up my chest. All I heard out of that was marry me.
“We aren’t getting married,” I tell her. And I give everyone a hard look to remind them of that fact and that I have a say in this too.
She stops stirring the sauce and narrows her eyes at me. “No marriage?” She turns to Angel. “Did you know of this?”
“I—”
“Don’t annoy Rya, Mother,” Dominic says, entering the kitchen. “It’s her first night with us.” Dominic puts an arm around me and pulls me in. “We don’t want to scare her off. Crue does a good job of that by himself.”
“Remove your hands from her,” Crue says darkly.
Dominic drops his arm as his mother and Angel carry plates to the table. I feel Crue approach before he circles my waist from behind.
“This is awkward. How dare you put me in this situation without warning,” I quietly seethe at him. When he said we were going to celebrate my winning the case, I thought perhaps a fancy dinner and great sex. Not being bombarded with family. Not that I’m complaining about seeing Angel, but his mother that’s an entirely different story.
“You think this situation is awkward? Is it any worse than your mother walking in while I held a gun over my hard cock?”
“That’s not the same.” I turn around so I can see him. “I didn’t know she was coming. You knew I was meeting your mother.”
“Well, you can’t meet my father because I killed him.”
I huff out a breath as he pulls away and drags me with him to the table, where everyone is already seated. He pulls out a chair for me, and I sit. I note with surprise that some of the meals are vegetarian. I wasn’t hungry until I sat in front of the food. With the excitement of the day, I haven’t had the chance to eat. Crue hands me the platter of garlic bread, starts to plate up some pasta for me, and then does the same for himself.